# Aura K. Dunn

Aura Kenny Dunn (born November 15, 1971) is an American Republican Party politician who has represented the 25th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since February 3, 2020 and previously from November 25, 2019 until January 14, 2020.
She served in the Assembly as the Assistant Minority Whip.

## Education and early career

Dunn earned her bachelor's degree in sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and was awarded a graduate degree in public administration from George Washington University. Dunn also holds a certificate in Mediation.
She was a budget analyst on education policy for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee from 1997 to 2000, and a policy advisor for the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Dunn later was a lobbyist for America’s Public Television Stations, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and advocated on behalf of these clients to the U.S. Senate. She was the District Director for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) from 2016 to his retirement in 2019.

## New Jersey Assembly

Dunn ran for assembly in the 2019 Republican primary losing to Anthony M. Bucco and Brian Bergen.
In September 2019, State Senator Anthony R. Bucco died. His son Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco was appointed to the Senate seat. Dunn then won a special election convention for Bucco's Assembly seat. She was sworn in on November 25, 2019, serving only until the end of the legislative session on January 14, 2020. After his Senate appointment, Bucco's name was still on the ballot for his Assembly seat, and he won re-election to the Assembly. Dunn was selected in another special convention for that seat on February 1, 2020, was sworn in again on February 3, 2020, and won the subsequent November 2020 special election for the seat.

### Committee assignments

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:
* Budget
* Children, Families and Food Security

## 25th District

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The representatives from the 25th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:
* Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R)
* Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R)
* Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn (R)

## Electoral history
### New Jersey Assembly

25th Legislative District General Election, 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 26,717 | 26.4 |
| | Republican | Christian E. Barranco (incumbent) | 25,988 | 25.7 |
| | Democratic | Diane Salvatore | 24,055 | 23.8 |
| | Democratic | Jonathan Torres | 24,420 | 24.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,180 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
25th legislative district general election, 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 42,183 | 28.25% |
| | Republican | Brian Bergen (incumbent) | 41,584 | 27.85% |
| | Democratic | Lauren Barnett | 33,322 | 22.31% |
| | Democratic | Patricia L. Veres | 32,243 | 21.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 149,332 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
25th legislative district special election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 64,469 | 52.5% |
| | Democratic | Darcy Draeger | 58,446 | 47.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,915 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2019 Special Convention for the 25th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Aura K. Dunn | 133 | 74% | N/A |
| | Republican | John M. Barabula | 24 | 13% | N/A |
| | Republican | Sarah Neibart | 13 | 7% | N/A |
| | Republican | Alison Deeb | 5 | 2% | N/A |
| | Republican | Al Reibero | 4 | 2% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '179' | '100.0' | |

## Personal life

Dunn lives in Mendham Borough with her husband and their three children.
Dunn served on the boards of Morris Habitat for Humanity and Morris County Mental Health Addictions Services. She volunteers as a JBWS-certified domestic violence crisis response team member for local police departments. Since 2010, her family has hosted a New York City child each summer through the Fresh Air Fund program.